It's Hard to Believe it's Over! Aplane Part 50

[@affordaplanestore]

The original plans used AN3 bolts for the frame gusset attachment instead of AN4, that is what I used with TA-1 and it saves about 1.5 pounds of weight. IMO except the wing attachment and upper landing gear bolts, there is no need for AN4 bolts anywhere on the Affordaplane. There is also the option of using the low profile nuts with the AN3 bolts that will save additional weight. Great job Jon, love the colors and I'm positive this new build series is going to be a great benefit to new builders.

[@dhammikeedirisinghe7244]

Dear Sir, I am Dhammike from Sri Lanka. Ex Sri Lankan Air force pilot. I have designed my own ultralight aircraft and now in building process. I followed and down loaded all your 50 videos of this series for my education. It was a great help for me. Thank you very much for every thing. I wish you all the best.

[@nvonalven]

This has definitely been one of my favorite series this year! Great work!

[@jasonpotts7491]

I believe there’s a litre of coolant for the Polini Thor and also gearbox oil. If it wasn’t drained during the weighing then this would help decrease the final weight number since this is a dry weight measurement! Nice build Jon!

[@davepalacios9190]

Negativ, emt weight includes required fluids except for usable fuel.

[@650gringo]

Awesome Job Sir! I was thinking it would be 275 to 300 lbs, but you got that puppy right down to the nitty gritty. That is great, only 259 lbs, very impressive! As a machinist who has made many a part for airplanes, I would radius every exposed corner and lightning holes in every flat gusset. Also, titanium fasteners, not cheap, not AN certified, but they are light. Thank you very much for this series, I have impatiently waited for it every week.

[@commentatron]

Don't forget helium in the tires! Sadly, _Stewie's Revenge_ was impounded after failing a surprise ramp check. If it doesn't sell at the FAA auction, it will likely be scrapped. Giggety.

[@650gringo]

@@commentatron Hydrogen is lighter yet. Just don't get the tires too hot.

[@abundantYOUniverse]

@@commentatron Makes no sense at all.

[@commentatron]

​@@abundantYOUniverse That happens to me occasionally as well. Try recalibrating your humor sensors.

[@abundantYOUniverse]

@@commentatron Got it, thanks 😃

[@JMOUC265]

Great job, Jon! Thank you for your time and effort to tackle this project and demonstrate it to us. Thank you also for showing me your cable cutting tool. I’m going to miss the Thursday episode of the Affordaplane series very much. I’m a long time viewer of HBH series, so I’ll have to wait for your next creation. See you down the runway!

[@cybair9341]

Thank you very much for the series. I learned a few building tricks that I'm going to use in my future projects and maintenance.

[@helihandler]

ALL WELL SAID SIR! A great build that has fascinated me from day one and with a perfect conclusion 👍 Fly her and enjoy as you have inspired all that watched and perhaps some may do👌

[@JohnHernandez-mc8kk]

Loved the video series so much i'am purchase the plans. Soon. And get a instructor for flight training

[@johnnicol5009]

Will order your videos next month! I may not be starting until next year but want to support your excellent work! Thanks Jon for a great series and down to earth hints, tips and experience.

[@jeffreyt8bowman180]

Thanks for such a well-done and interesting presentation. The fact that you make it appear so doable is a great testament to your teaching skill. After you’ve taken some time to ponder possible solutions, may I humbly suggest at least one more video be added to this series entitled, “Building the affordaplane, how we dropped the final 5 pounds from our build and achieved ultralight status”. Again, many thanks to you and your feline costar.

[@JimPfarr]

Excellent job Jon! This was a meticulous build with top notch workmanship, and I feel honored to have helped in my small way to get you to the finish line. It's a shame you didn't hit 254 pounds, but as you noted in the video there are ways to trim that last few pounds.

[@audiophile1024]

This whole series has been very interesting and fun to watch. Thank you, Jon,!

[@GrantOakes]

I binge watched all 50 between yesterday and today! Early on I thought the 1/8" wall aluminum square tubing was a bit excessive, especially with the amount of triangular structure that was created. I wonder if .065" wall would work and drop a lot of weight.

[@dougkehoe3758]

JON…Jon…jon… such a bargain! Complete package now with plans kit! Thank you so much Mr patience.

[@jedwig61]

II'm a wanna-be flyer & wanna-be builder and t's been great following your build. Would love to see it's first flight.

[@jefferyhudson4681]

My son loves your Fiero in the background. I had one when he's was a small child.

[@wreckum56]

And also John the heim joints should have a washer on the outside that is large enough so incase of a failure of it,the bearing can’t slip through and fail.

[@HomebuiltHELP]

Dont believe the head can go thru as is - but worth verifying! Thanks

[@verbonloucks6498]

That happened to me on a race car lost steering on the drag link, washer would have saved me around 2 k of wall damage at 150 mph ! Excellent job on your a plane !!

[@davepalacios9190]

@@HomebuiltHELP industry standard, although experimental you can do anything even though its a dumb idea and not smart

[@jpmasso]

Hats off, Jon, thank you very much for your this 50-videos present, I enjoyed them a lot, as all your building tips.

[@michaelbevan3285]

well done! great work ethic, excellent delivery of information and a cracking result.

[@LTVoyager]

Congratulations! Looking forward to seeing the first flight.

[@joseruiz-Joecool]

Congrats! Very well done! Thank you, you have inspired my autistic son to maybe put one of these airplanes together.

[@lawrencedevine2767]

Hi From Ireland. Great Build Project, Thanks.

[@pba3703]

Thanks for the education. I hope you start another project soon.

[@cipanmandul]

The best video series so far.

[@waynebeebe5745]

FYI, Black tie wraps a rated for outdoor use. White or clear break down with UV light.

[@n206ja]

Great series, Jon! As I recall, your tailwheel spring was a rather heavy piece of metal - perhaps go with something fabricated from fiberglass or plastic to shave a little weight?

[@obtv6827]

GREAT SERIES JON! I am on chapter 27, but had to watch this one when I saw "Misssion Complete".

[@MrMontanaNights]

Any chance of you bringing her to Oshkosh some time? I've yet to ever see an A-plane there.

[@Jeff034]

Thank you John - but it’s not over until it flies!!!!! When do we see this??

[@rndmcnflct]

Great video series, really enjoyed it!

[@andrewbetances1203]

Looks amazing!

[@terencedriscoll4785]

I like the Fiero in the background. Owned a few of them they are fun and interesting

[@resiggy13]

Would love for you to comment on what the "all-in" cost was to build this.

[@perrycorn2789]

One thing with the rod ends there should be a big washer under the head of the bolt or nut on the rod end that is away from what it is connected to as if the bearing fails it can pass over the bolt head or nut and the rod end can fall off . So long as the washer is bigger than the rod end bearing if it fails the rod will stay connected to the control arm and it maybe sloppy but you still have control. It is hard to fall off but I have seen a few that the bearing failed and the rod end has come off but with some form of a larger containment slightly than the bearing end it won't come off

[@houstonsheltonbees814]

Congratulations. I'll definitely be looking at dropping that five pounds during the build. Excellent job 👍 good health and God bless

[@isaac139]

Thank you for showing us how. I am inspired by you.

[@m180190]

Great series! Thanks Jon

[@Chemist1076]

thanks... very informative...

[@GEOsustainable]

Very cool. I want to do it in electric.

[@HomebuiltHELP]

That was my first choice - would make the weight too. However only off the shelf motor/controller combo available was $10K, so waiting for that price to come down!

[@Redbird85C]

Thought you were going to trim the cat’s nails with the cable cutter! Great series I looked forward too every Thursday. Agree with others that it doesn’t seem complete without at least a maiden flight! Saw you produce Zenith build videos too. Have been eyeing the Cruzer for a while. Will look forward to the next project!

[@Mike-ff7ib]

So nice but I never saw the first flight video. Were you able to fly it?

[@johnrisher3007]

Many castle nuts are used on certified airplanes, you just need to use cotter pins. But it would add weight

[@joaquinandes]

What was the final price tag for this project? Could you give us a breakdown and total man hours?

[@simitarknut2201]

I know it would be a pain to do now, but the UHMD plastic inserts, could be removed from the fuselage, and take a hole saw to them and remove a majority of the material to get that 5 lbs. Turn them into Swiss cheese except the area where the bolts go through.

[@HomebuiltHELP]

Yes - spot on with that. I felt they were much heavier than wood - but at a such an early part of the build I wasnt that concerned! Nice idea about trimming them like that.

[@masoudemaratsaz2052]

Thank you for your teaching how to make affordaplane i have question i did not see how to balance aircraft in your video ?

[@HomebuiltHELP]

We did not film the weighing of the plane (we used bathroom scales). The weight and balance form that recorded and calculated the balance is shown in the "extras" that are available here: www.homebuilthelp.com/Affordaplane/Affordaplane.htm

[@tomcoryell]

Excellent!

[@perrycorn2789]

After seen this set of videos twice I think it is a very simple aircraft to build and could get it to the 254 lbs and I think they should up the weight to 260 lbs as it would make it easier and Jon cut holes in the seat and put a light weight mesh over the holes if needed and you will loose the 5 lbs great job

[@212caboose]

Thank you for bringing us along on your build!! Question! I've followed along, and you've been pretty meticulous about the build- how are you 5 lbs over? Material choices in certain areas? Great work, as always!

[@HomebuiltHELP]

LOL I guess I dont know how to answer that! If I knew - it wouldnt have been over weight?

[@andrewgarrett4959]

Excellent series! Did you deduct the weight of your lifting strap as well as your engine fluids?

[@JoseRamos-su3ep]

Everything looks great! Very nicely done! Which video did you discuss to not install the “cabin” and the floor? I know the decision was most likely for weight, I did not notice an episode. Never mind!!! I get it

[@parama130]

Why did you not show the weighing process? Was the tail wheel still resting on the table when you weighed the airplane? The weight you report is pretty hard to believe

[@JohnHernandez-mc8kk]

Could u pit lighting holes in the lower 2x2 frame between contral are and rear area behind the seat compartt

[@mtyquinn6]

Nice job! Are there supposed to have pulley guides? I would be concerned of a little slack allowing the cable to jump out of the pulley...

[@HomebuiltHELP]

No guides are needed. If you watch the episode where we build the pulley system you will see that the clearance around the pulley perimeter will not allow the cable to leave the groove - by design for that reason. No skipping of video episodes, please!

[@davidwhite2011]

When is the first flight? Is there anyone that goes through a test program before flight? My license cost me $1650 so many years ago in a C150 at $22 an hour wet.

[@orvjudd1383]

Use steel rivets instead of bolts through the frame structure.

[@cwalke32477]

Why wouldn't you castellated nuts on the moving parts. A castellated nut with a cotter pin is much less likely to loosen than some nylon compression

[@tonyortega2778]

will we see it fly

[@bibrakc]

In Pakistan the limit of Ultralight is 300 KG.

[@flyguyeddy]

Fiero! Hell yea

[@f.n.schlub]

Now, how about a weight-shift trike ?

[@TheGodamnzilla]

Can you shave weight by adding lightening holes to the gussets? or would this be dangerous?

[@markgillette7726]

what part is main wing covering?

[@peterforst2319]

Did you get the fuel tank seat ???

[@raygrooms1736]

It may make weight under Mosaic.

[@mackelby1]

The weight of the paint.

[@jimkoney4200]

Is a torque specification on the bolt nuts?

[@anthonyrstrawbridge]

I don't know anything about helium other than that is lighter than air and very difficult to contain. I wonder regarding benefits liability viability -if - how - where - costs etc. etc.. Not a clue here.

[@dougkehoe3758]

Had no clue about chute weight…

[@raghuraman1062]

I don't need thumb drive I need all the videos 50 KZbin videos I already download I need all 30 except videos how can I buy without of thumb drive thank you

[@user-tl5fi9lz9z]

What’s the cat’s name?

[@HomebuiltHELP]

Winky The darker striped one is Stinky

[@raghuraman1062]

Hi sir am from India how can I buy thumb drive?

[@HomebuiltHELP]

The URL for purchase is in the Comments area of this video

[@arthursoutham9046]

Hi Jon. Congratulations on completing your affordaplane. I am very saddened to hear that you are overweight by 5 little pounds. I feel that your weight problem is all in the engine. The Pollini 202 might be OK for paragliding etc, but been water cooled it would be heavier than an air-cooled engine. The engine has to drag the cooling fluid and a radiator around. This is where I think you could loose all your over weight as you didn't deviate from the plans in any other way. I am rather disappointed that I will not see JC-1 fly. I'm not wanting to gleen more information from you , but I would have liked to see you fly the thing. I still have to find out how the law in Bulgaria is in regards to ultralight. I suspect it is going to be very different to the US. The other thing I want to run past you. I was thinking of using castalated nuts and split cotters through out. I'm not too in love with nylock nuts. Castalated nuts are easy to inspect during the preflight walk around. I am convinced that the Affordaplane is doable for me. In actual fact it is like falling off a log for me having been involved with aircraft building many years ago. The construction of the Affordaplane is very basic, but great accuracy and attention to detail must be exercised at all times during construction. All the best and I hope you fly JC-1 for many years.

[@HomebuiltHELP]

Arthur - you may be missing the point on castellated nuts - if a fastener is meant to be torqued tight to hold properly (like all of those gussets) then a castellated nut will not work. The pins only go at several pre-determined positions - so the connection would probably be either loose or over tight. They are designed to be used when you want the connection to be loose - so that it can rotate for example. Nyloc nuts are what certified aircraft use when a connection is to be tight. It should not have to do with how you feel about it?

[@arthursoutham9046]

@@HomebuiltHELP Hi. Yes I agree with what you are saying. The only thing about nyloc nuts thst worry me is the fact that once they have been tightened up you should not reuse them. They should be discarded and a new nut fitted in it's place as the nyloc nut is a one use nut. Also I cannot see how you can do an inspection on the joint on doing the walk around preflight checks. Anyway I will be doing as the plans say I should. Maybe add a drop of locktight to the threads as well as the lock nuts. Maybe I'm just been over cautious or just looking for problems where they don't exist. Anyway I hope you post a short video on the KZbin of you flying the thing. After all you had us all captivated with the building series. I don't think I'm the only one who would love to see you on your maiden flight, and to see the big smile on your face when you land. I cannot wait to be able to say,"I built that"when I get to building my own Affordaplane. It has become urgent for me to get started on building as my health is going downhill. I am diabetic, even though I have reduced my blood sugar significantly to where I'm now back to been in the prediabetic stages. I have to watch my carbs intake very carefully. This is the main reason for building the affordaplane, but I first have to find out if the rules are the same here as in the States. I am very sure I will never be able to hold a full pilot's licence because of my medical condition. At best I will be able to fly with a safety pilot. They could be very hard to find. Well now you know the battle that I face in getting airborne. I always wanted to fly and have been enthralled with flight for as long as I can remember. Looking up at aircraft flying over when I was about 3 or 4years old. In those days it was Skymasters and loadstars doing the Durban to Johannesburg route. So you can see that I'm no spring chicken. Again I wish you all the very best with your affordaplane and hope to have a look at it flying. Bye for now.

[@HomebuiltHELP]

Not to beat a dead horse - the idea of not reusing a nyloc nut is NOT an FAA rule here in the States. They stipulate that if it loses its ability to do its job then it should be replaced. Dont know of any mechanic that throws away these nuts after prior using (unless maybe they are trying to get the bill up!) Just trying to share industry practices with you - not arguing! Worrying is a good thing to protect our lives - but - worry about the things that are known to fail- not the ones that have no history of failure.

[@echopapacharlie]

@@arthursoutham9046 Apply torque seal on the nyloc nut, if you want to be able to inspect every nut visually.

[@Tommy-B.]

Did you ever shave those 5 lbs?

[@jefflintz4849]

Oratex

[@JimPfarr]

I am highly familiar with Oratex, he might have saved a pound or maybe (a big stretch) two by using Oratex. Jon kept it light with minimal coats of paint, he's quite meticulous in that regard.

[@noanyobiseniss7462]

LOL, $4200 for 9 lbs!

[@bibrakc]

Polini 303 will be way powerful then.

[@echopapacharlie]

The 303 is even heavier than the 202 engine used here. As it is the plane is overweight by 5 lbs.

[@bibrakc]

@@echopapacharlie In Pakistan ultralight weight limit is 300 KG.

[@echopapacharlie]

@@bibrakc That may be so, but this builder here is trying to comply with the US regulation, which is 254 lbs.

[@bibrakc]

@@echopapacharlie yes I know. I am just referring that the polini 303 would be much more fun and powerful.

[@guineapigzed]

Nope

[@mightystreaming933]

rivets instead of bolts. only a fool would fly with no seat belt.

[@commentatron]

Velcro pants disagrees.

[@travismiller5548]

@@commentatron giggety